Nectarine tree (Ruby Diamond)

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the first week in July, with first picking on Jul. 4, 1990. The fruit is uniformly large in size, excellent in flavor, attractively globose in shape, freestone in type, very firm in texture, and full red in skin color. The variety was developed as a hybridized seedling from the selected seed parent of Red Diamond Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), and an unnamed nectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we,the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of nectarine, peach,plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has beendenominated varietally as "Ruby Diamond". The present variety washybridized in 1983 by use in a cultivated area of our experimentalorchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif., in Merced County (SanJoaquin Valley). It was the result of a seedling using Red DiamondNectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165) as the selected seed parent and anunnamed nectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent. Subsequent toorigination of the present variety of nectarine tree, we asexuallyreproduced it by budding and grafting, and such reproduction of plantand fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in allrespects.

The fruit produced by the present variety is similar to that of theSummer Grand Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,879) by maturing in July,by being very productive, and by being freestone in type, but isdistinguished therefrom and an improvemnent thereon by producing fruitthat ripens 6 days earlier and is full red in skin color over the entirefruit surface.

The present variety is similar to its selected seed parent, the RedDiamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), in fruit appearance by being a fullred colored freestone nectarine with excellent firmness, but isdistinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruitthat ripens 6 days later, is somewhat larger in size, is more globose inshape, and is sweeter in flavor, and by having a large blossom insteadof a small blossom.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruitdivided around the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone, andtypical leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at thestate of hard eating ripe on Jul. 12, 1990. All major color codedesignations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council,National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also usedoccasionally.

TREE

Size: Large.

Vigor: Vigorous.

Growth: Spreading and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy.

Production: Very productive.

Bearing: Regular bearer.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Bark color.--Dark grayish yellowish brown [81. d.gy.yBr].

Lenticles.--Numerous. Color: Light yellowish brown [76.1.yBr]. Size: 1/8to 3/8, [3.2-9.5 mm.].

Branches:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Color.--1st year wood topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st year woodunderside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Older wood: Deepyellowish brown [75. deep yBr].

Lenticels.--Numerous, very small.

Leaves:

Size.--Large. Average length: 6"[152.4 mm.]. Average width: 11/2" [38.1mm.].

Thickness.--Medium.

Form.--Elliptical.

Apex.--Acuminate.

Base.--Acute.

Surface.--Smooth.

Color.--Dorsal surface: Moderate olive green [125. OlG]. Ventralsurface: Moderate yellow green [120. mYG].

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Venation.--Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.--Average length: 7/16" [11.1 mm.]. Average thickness: 1/16"[1.6mm.]. Dorsal color: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG]. Ventral color:Light yellow green [119. l.YG].

Stipules.--Numerous. Length: 3/16" to 3/8" [4.8-9.5 mm.].

Glands.--Numbers: 2, 3, or 4 per leaf. Position: Mostly oppositelypositioned on petiole and base of blade, with a few singles. Size:Medium. Form: Reniform. Color: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.--Hardy.

Size.--Medium.

Length.--Medium.

Form.--Free.

Surface.--Pubescent.

Flowers:

Blooming period.--Medium as comapred with other varieties.

Size.--Large.

Color.--Light pink [4. l.Pk].

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Firm and eating ripe, Jul. 12, 1990.

Date of first picking: Jul. 4, 1990.

Date of last picking: Jul. 20, 1990.

Size: Uniform, large.

Average diameter axially.--2 9/16" [65.1 mm.].

Average traversely in suture plane.--2 9/16" [65.1 mm.].

Form: Uniform, very symmetrical, globose with some slight truncation atthe base.

Longitudinal section form.--Round.

Transverse section through diameter.--Round.

Suture: An inconspicuous shallow line extending from the base to theapex, becoming deeper toward the apex.

Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped very slightly throughout on one side.

Lips: Slightly unequal.

Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side only.

Depth.--3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Breadth.--7/8 "[22.2 mm.].

Base: Slightly truncate, with stem markings typical.

Apex: Rounded.

Pistil point: Some apical and some oblique, very short in length.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.--3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Average width.--5/32" [4.0 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Tenacity.--Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None observed as of yet.

Color.--Deep red [13. deep R] over the entire surface with some verysmall grayish reddish orange [39. gy.rO] freckling near the apex end.

Flesh:

Color.--Brilliant orange yellow [67. brill.OY] with some moderate red[15. m.R] streaking near the stone.

Surface of pit cavity.--Covered with moderate red [15. m.R] fibers.

Amygdalin.--Moderate.

Juice.--Abundant, rich.

Texture.--Very firm, tough, crisp.

Fibers.--Abundant, fine.

Ripens.--Evenly.

Flavor.--A tasty blend of acid and sugar.

Aroma.--Slight.

Eating quality.--Best.

STONE

Type: Freestone.

Form: Oval to oblong.

Base: Straight.

Apex: Acute to acuminate.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the ventral edge and pitted towardthe base and dorsal fin.

Ridges: Jagged toward the base.

Color: Light brown [57. l.Br].

Pit wall: 3/16" [4.8 mm.] thick.

Tendency to split: None observed.

Kernel:

Form.--Oval.

Taste.--Sweet.

Viable.--Yes.

Average width.--1/2" [12.7 mm.].

Average length.--3/4" [19.1 mm.].

Color.--Pale yellow [89. p.Y] when first cracked.

Pellicle color.--Dark grayish yellow [91. d.gy.Y].

Amygdalin.--Scant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Excellent.

Shipping quality: Excellent.

Resistant to insects: No unusal susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantiallyas illustrated and described, which is similar to its seed parent, RedDiamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), by producing freestone nectarinesthat are full red in skin color and very firm in texture, but isdistinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruitthat ripens 6 days later, is somewhat larger in size, is more globose inshape, and is sweeter in flavor, and by having a large blossom insteadof a small blossom, and which is also similar to the Summer GrandNectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,879) by being very productive and byproducing freestone nectarines that mature in July, but is distinguishedtherefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruit that ripens 6days earlier and is full red in skin color over the entire fruitsurface.